Radio-controlled clockwork

ABSTRACT

A radio-controlled, analog display clockwork has at least two pointers and is driven by an electric driving arrangement. A pointer setting arrangement is provided for the user to bring the pointers of the clockwork to a predetermined position which corresponds to a certain time. Starting from said predetermined pointer position, the control device applies control signals to the driving arrangement, causing the pointers to move more quickly until they have reached a position which corresponds to the instantaneous time.

The present invention relates to a radio-controlled clockwork with atleast two pointers, a procedure for setting and using such a clockwork.

In most countries the time is standardized by radio signals, transmittedfrom a central radio station. In the Federal Republic of Germany thestandard time is supplied from an atomic clock of"Physikalisch-technische Bundesanstalt" (federal institution for Physicsand Technology), controlling the transmission of time signals via along-wave transmitter.

Prior art are so-called radio-controlled clocks, which can also be usedprivately, processing the signals of this long-wave transmitter andtherefore always giving the exact time. In general these clocks workwith a digital display using light emitting diodes or liquid crystals.For example, such a clock has become prior art by DE 28 02 040 A1.

For some time radio-controlled clocks have become prior art, working inan analog way, i.e. a clockface with two or three pointers is used fordisplay.

In case of such clocks the setting of the time requires a particularlyconstructive solution, i.e. for the first operation of the clock, e.g.after a battery change, and when setting the clock in case major timedifferences have to be bridged, as is the case when changing from summertime to winter time and vice versa.

Radio-controlled clocks are controlled by a control device, receivingthe time signals from a radio receiving station. In order to move thepointers into the correct position on the basis of the signals received,this control device has to receive an information stating in whichposition the pointers are at the moment. Therefore arrangements forrecognizing the pointer position have to be provided.

In general the pointer position recognition is performed in such a waythat in the driving wheels, attributed to the individual pointers, aspecial position is defined, e.g. by a bore, acting together with anadequate sensor arrangement, e.g. a light barrier. Normally the boresare provided such that the pointers are exactly in the 12 o'clockposition when the light of the light barrier meets the bore.

As soon as the clock shall be set anew, these driving wheels will bemoved until they reach this defined position and subsequently they willbe moved to a pointer position corresponding to the instantaneous time.

From the book "Radio-controlled clocks" by Wolfgang Hilberg (publisher),published in 1983 in Munich and Vienna, pages 104-109, aradio-controlled clock according to the generic term of claim 1 is priorart. In this radio-controlled clock a reflection light barrier is usedto determine the pointer position. The procedure described for settingthe clockwork provides for a setting procedure started with an electricswitching arrangement, moving the pointers until their position has beendetermined by the reflection light barrier and then the pointers will bemoved out of this position at a speed higher than during normalclockwork operation, the number of current impulses being counted, whichwill be supplied to a driving arrangement for moving the pointers. Thesetting procedure will be stopped as soon as the number of transmittedimpulses corresponds to the number of impulses required for reaching theinstantaneous time. This instantaneous time will be determined byevaluating the time signals received by a radio receiver. The clockincludes a step motor for the hour pointer and a step motor for theminute pointer.

The setting procedure is relatively unproblematic, if the clockcomprises two or three motors as in the embodiment described. However,such clockworks have an expensive design and require much space. Inaddition they consume a lot of energy. Therefore the use of smallerclocks, e.g. wrist watches, is normally excluded.

In case of clockworks comprising only one motor, the arrangements forrecognizing the pointer positions are very expensive with regard tomanufacture and space requirements as compared to the remaining design.Another disadvantage in case of clockworks with only one motor is thelong setting time required. The electrically activated drivingarrangements of such clockworks will be designed for the driving powerrequired for moving the pointers. In case the pointers move more rapidlyduring the setting procedure, a higher driving power is required. Inorder to avoid too large a driving device, the speed during the settingprocedure has to be limited, e.g. to a motion sixteen times higher thanthe usual speed. This means to set time by one hour would take almostfour minutes in case of a single-motor clockwork. A further speedincrease is impossible as a braking at the detected starting positionwould not be possible due to the pointer's inertia moment.

For example, if the pointers are in the 2 o'clock position atrestarting, it takes 37 minutes in case of a single-motor clockwork formoving the pointers in the position where the pointer position will bedetected.

Performing the recognition of the pointer position also results inbattery capacity problems. During the procedure of recognizing thepointer position, the light-emitting diodes of the light barriers haveto be supplied with electrical energy in regular, short intervals. Thisenergy has to be taken from the battery, resulting to a rapid exhaust ofthe relatively expansive battery, in particular in case of wristwatches. But also in case of other clocks, e.g. alarm clocks or wallclocks, the recognition of the pointer position requires a lot ofbattery power.

Therefore it is the task of the present invention to provide aclockwork, offering a space-saving and inexpensive design on the onehand and providing nevertheless on the other hand a reliable setting ofthe current time, consuming only few energy. Furthermore it is the taskof the invention to provide a procedure for operating such a clockwork.

As provided for by this invention this task is solved by a clockworkaccording to claim 1.

The procedure as provided for by this invention is the object of claim8.

The preferred use of such a clockwork is the object of the claims 12 to14.

The preferred embodiments of the invention are object of the sub-claims.

The invention serves to drastically reduce the design for building ananalog display radio-controlled clock. The design as provided for bythis invention does no longer require an arrangement for recognizing thepointer position, not even in case of a single-motor clockwork.

The pointers will be moved into a predetermined position by a mechanicaldevice to be actuated by the user. For example, this may be the 12o'clock position of all pointers. However, the starting position of thepointers will preferably be chosen variably, i.e. such that itcorresponds to the past full hour. However this variant presupposes thatthe user has another clock, giving at least an approximate time.

By the fact that the pointers can be moved to the starting position bythe user, the time for setting the clock will be decisively reduced.

In addition it is not necessary to provide an arrangement forrecognizing the pointer position. The constructional design of theclockwork is thus considerably reduced and the energy consumption isconsiderably lessened.

In case a variable starting position of the pointers is chosen, as incase of the preferred emodiment, corresponding to the past full hours,the setting times, required by the clockwork to move the pointers fromthis starting position into the instantaneous position is considerablyreduced and amounts to a maximum of five minutes.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the clockwork asprovided for by this invention includes three pointers. In this casepreferably two externally accessible setting arrangements for thepointers are provided. The first setting arrangement for the secondpointer includes an electric switch, operating the driving arrangementtemporarily. Thus it is possible to move the second pointer by means ofthe driving arrangement electrically to the starting position,preferably to the 12 o'clock position. If this is carried out e.g. at aspeed four times the usual turning speed, this setting takes less than15 seconds. Subsequently the user moves the hour and minute pointer intothe predetermined position.

This embodiment example has the advantage that the normally toothedconnection between the driving arrangement and the second pointer forsetting the clock has not to be interrupted.

Alternatively a mechanic adjustment arrangement for the second pointermay be provided.

Further advantages, features and application possiblities of the presentinvention may be taken from the subsequent description of an embodimentexample with regard to the drawing.

FIG. 1 shows an explosion view of a clockwork as provided for by theinvention, however the pointers are not shown.

FIG. 2 shows an explosion view of the drive as is used in the clockworkaccording to FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 shows an electronic component for controlling the clockwork.

An embodiment example of the clockwork according to the invention isdescribed with regard to FIG. 1 and 2, for clarity reasons however, thepointers are not shown.

The clockwork shown includes a housing 1 made of plastic material, inwhich a compartment 3 for a standard battery is provided by a housingwall 2.

In the bottom of housing 1 a bore 7 is provided, into which the plastichour wheel 10 will be inserted during assembly, including a cylindricalhollow nose 11 on to which the hour pointer will be put.

The minute wheel 15 will be inserted into the longitudinal bore 12 ofthe hour wheel, having also a cylindrical hollow nose 16, penetratingthe cylindrical hollow nose 11 of the hour wheel, upon which the minutepointer will be placed. For transmitting the rotary movement from minutewheel 15 to hour wheel 10 an intermediate wheel 18 is provided, thetransmission ratio is 1:60.

If assembled, the shaft of the second wheel 20, arranged in a separatelypre-assembled part, clockwork 22, engages into the cylindrical hollownose 16 of the minute wheel.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the clockwork 22 includes a fixing plate 23,holding an electric drive 24, consisting of a stator arrangement 25, arotor 26 and a coil 27.

A toothed wheel 30 is arranged on rotor 26, concentric to it,transmitting the rotary movement of the rotor via the intermediatewheels 32 and 34 to the second wheel 20. A cover plate 36 holds theparts of the clockwork in the assembled condition.

The design of such a clockwork as described so far is known to everybodyskilled in the art from the standard quartz clockworks and therefore itmust not be detailed.

Housing 1 is closed with cover 40 on the side opposite to the clockface.There is an opening 42 in this cover 40, where a setting wheel 43 forsetting the minute pointer and the hour pointer is provided.

In the cover there is a 1st electric switch 44, a 2nd electric switch 46and a 3rd electric switch 48, the function of these switches isdescribed below.

The control of the clock is performed via an electronic component 50,its design will be detailed with regard to FIG. 3. The electroniccomponent includes a radio receiver unit 52, connected with an antenna53. The radio receiver unit is designed to receive the signals of atransmitter, sending the time signals.

The time sender used in the Federal Republic of Germany transmits timesignals every second. In addition a so-called time telegram will betransmitted, stating date and time.

The design of such a radio receiver unit is prior art and need not bedetailed.

The signals of the radio receiver unit will be transmitted to a controldevice 55, i.e. a conventional microprocessor. The control device 55will be controlled by a program stored in a memory 56.

In addition the arrangement includes a quartz control 58, in order to beable to operate the clock if no signals can be received from the timetransmitter.

It has to be pointed out that one or more of the above mentionedcomponents, e.g. the control device 55 and the memory 56 may be combinedto one component.

The first electric switch arrangement 44, the second switch arrangement46 and the third electric switch arrangement 48 are also connected tothe microprocessor.

In the following paragraphs the function of this clockwork will beexplained:

In the course of the usual function of the clock the radio receiver unit52 receives the signals from the time transmitter and passes them on tothe microprocessor 55. The microprocessor emits adequate impulses,controlling the driving arrangement 28. The emission of an impulsealways means that the rotor 26 makes a full or a half circle dependingon its design. Thus the second wheel 20 moves forward clockwise by 6°.The rotary movement of the second wheel will be transmitted to theminute wheel and the hour wheel with the corresponding reduction.

At the first operation of the clock or after an interruption, e.g. whenchanging the batteries, the clock has to be adjusted. The embodimentexample presents two different possibilities for this adjustment,depending on the position of switch 48. In the first alternative thesecond and the minute pointer will be set to "12" and the hour pointerwill be set to the time, corresponding to the full past hour. If thetime to be set is e.g. 5.30 h, the clock will be set to 5.00 h.

In the second alternative, all pointers will be set to "12".

The setting of the second pointer will be performed by the electricswitch 44. If the switch is activated, the microprocessor emits a rapidsignal sequence to the driving arrangement 28, inducing it to a quickforward motion of the second pointer. As soon as the second pointerreaches the position 12.00 h, switch 44 will be put back into itsstarting position and the second pointer will be held in this position.

Subsequently the minute and hour pointer will be put into the 12.00 hposition or into the position of the preceding full hour, correspondingto the position of switch 48. This will be done mechanically by the uservia setting wheel 43. As soon as the pointers are in the correctstarting position, switch 46 will be actuated, emitting a start signalto processor 55, starting the time setting procedure.

The control device now waits until it has received the first timetelegram from the radio receiver arrangement 52. If the control deviceworks according to the first alternative, it calculates the timedifference between the 12.00 h position and the instantaneous time andthus the number of impulses required to move the clock to this time.Subsequently the impulses required will be emitted in rapid sequence,e.g. four impulses per second, such that the setting procedure for onehour amounts all in all to 15 minutes. The impulses will be counted andthe processor uses them as standard for recognizing the pointerposition. As the time elapses during the adjustment procedure, thenumber of impulses required for getting from the original pointerposition to the instantaneous time, has to be adapted adequately. Thesetting procudure is continued until the instantaneous time is reached.

In case the second alternative is used, the processor assumes that thepointers are in a position, corresponding to the last past full hour.Here too the difference between the instantaneous time and the timegiven by the pointer position is taken and a number of impulses will beapplied to the clockwork to bring the pointers into the requiredposition of the instantaneous time.

The advantage of the first alternative is that no reference time isrequired, as the whole setting proceeds from a fixed pointer position,i.e. e.g. 12.00 h. However, the disadvantage is that the setting maytake very long. As clockworks of the type discussed here normally runonly in one direction, i.e. forward, the setting times will be long.

The disadvantage of the second alternative is that the approximateinstantaneous time has to be known. However, the advantage lies in avery short setting time. If e.g. sixteen impulses per second are usedfor the setting procedure, this means that the maximum setting time inthis alternative is only about 5 minutes.

Three electrical switches 44, 46 and 48 are provided in the abovedescribed first embodiment example. In a simplified second embodimentexample the switch 48 will be dropped. In this embodiment examplepreferably the setting method proceeding from the setting of the pastfull hour will be used. As detailed above, this offers the advantage ofshort setting times. The disadvantage, presupposing that the approximatetime has to be known, is of no importance as compared to this, as thetime normally should be available in areas where such time transmittershave been installed.

In a third embodiment example the electric switching arrangement 44,setting the second to 12.00 h, will be dropped. In this embodimentexample the setting of the second will be performed by the user by meansof a mechanic setting device. In order to accelerate the setting, eventwo setting devices may be provided, the first acting on the minute andhour pointer and the second only on the second pointer.

In a third embodiment example all electric switching arrangements willbe dropped. In this embodiment example the clockwork comprises only oneor two mechanical setting devices, used for setting the desiredpredetermined time, preferably the past full hour. For preventing theclock's operation during the setting procedure, the battery is to beremoved. As soon as the pointers are set to the predetermined value, thebattery will be inserted again and the clock starts as soon as thecontrol device receives the signal for the full minute from the radioreceiver arrangement.

The advantage of this embodiment example is its extremely simple design.

The above mentioned embodiment examples of the clockwork as provided forby this invention may be used in various clocks, i.e. in wall clocks,grandfather's clocks, alarm clocks and wristwatches.

The model may be chosen depending on the space and battery capacityavailable and the operating ease of one of the above mentionedembodiment examples.

In case it is used as an alarm clock, the clockwork as provided for bythis invention may be coupled with a conventional mechanical alarmrelease. Furthermore it is possible to couple the alarm clock with anelectronic alarm release. However, in this case a LCD display has to beprovided to be able to set and display the alarm clock.

In case the clockwork as provided for by this invention is installed ina wristwatch, the winding button is used as mechnical time settingdevice. Switch 46 is then designed as switch, actuated by disengagingand re-engaging the winding button. In this case the clock begins to runas soon as the button is put in again.

As detailed above, in all embodiment examples preferably a quartzclockwork is used, giving off control signals to the control device,permitting a time control if no radio signal is available or if theradio signal temporarily cannot be received. In a further development ofthe invention, which can be combined with all above mentioned embodimentexamples, the control device in principle processes the signals comingfrom the quartz arrangement. In this case the radio receiver arrangementwill only be activated in predetermined time intervals, e.g. once perhour, to synchronize the time displayed according to the time receivedand to correct time, if required. The advantage of this embodimentexample lies in the fact that the energy consumption will be furtherdecreased, this being of special interest for wristwatches and alarmclocks.

In addition the use of a quartz clockwork offers the advantage that itmay be used for calculating the time period since begin of the settingprocedure. This is important in case the radio clock does not receive asignal for a longer period of time at begin of the setting procedure. Ifthe instantaneous time is e.g. 10.55 h, the user has to set as startingtime for the pointer setting 10.00 h. In case it takes 10 minutes untilthe first radio signal will be received and a setting of the pointerposition becomes possible, e.g. due to a temporary disturbance, theclock would assume a pointer position of 11.00 h und thus the pointerwould only be moved by 5 minutes with regard to the starting position.However, this would result in a faulty display of 1 hour.

However, if the quartz clock is used for checking the duration of thesetting procedure, the processor can calculate that the predeterminedpointer position has been set on 10.55 h. The control device 55 is thenable to determine that the preset pointer position is 10.00 h and causean adequate pointer movement.

What is claimed is:
 1. A radio-controlled analog display clockworkwith:at least two pointers, a current source, a driving arrangement(24), driving the pointers, a mechanical pointer setting arrangement(43, 44, 46) for bringing the pointers into a predetermined startingposition, corresponding to a certain time, a control device (55)supplying control signals for controlling said driving arrangement, aradio receiver arrangement (52), receiving time signals from a timetransmitter and passing them on to the control device (55), said currentsource, said driving arrangement, said control device and said radioreceiving arrangement being arranged in one common housing,characterized in that said mechanical pointer setting arrangement is tobe actuated by the user, and thereafter the control device appliescontrol signals to the driving arrangement on the basis of saidpredetermined starting position, resulting in an increased pointerspeed, until a pointer position corresponding to the instantaneous timeis reached.
 2. A clockwork according to claim 1, characterized in thatsaid predetermined starting position cannot be changed.
 3. A clockworkaccording to claim 2, characterized in that said predetermined startingposition can be changed depending on the relevant instantaneous time. 4.A clockwork according to claim 2, characterized in that a switchingarrangement (48) is provided, permitting the arrangement to be switchedfrom a first setting alternative, where the predetermined startingposition is fixed, to a second setting alternative, where thepredetermined starting position depends on the instantaneous time.
 5. Aclockwork according to claim 3, characterized in that a switchingarrangement (48) is provided, permitting the arrangement to be switchedfrom a first setting alternative, where the predetermined startingposition is fixed, to a second setting alternative, where thepredetermined starting position depends on the instantaneous time.
 6. Aclockwork according to claim 3, characterized in that the predeterminedstarting position dependent on the instantaneous time, corresponds tothe past full hour of the instantaneous time.
 7. A clockwork accordingto claim 4, characterized in that the predetermined starting positiondependent on the instantaneous time, corresponds to the past full hourof the instantaneous time.
 8. A clockwork according to claim 5,characterized in that the predetermined starting position dependent onthe instantaneous time, corresponds to the past full hour of theinstantaneous time.
 9. A clockwork according to claim 1, characterizedin that a third pointer is provided, designed as pointer for the secondsand that a first switching arrangement (44) is provided, permitting thesecond pointer to be switched to an increased rotary speed by means ofthe driving arrangement (28), in order to move said second pointer intosaid predetermined starting position.
 10. A clockwork according to claim1, characterized in that a 2nd switching arrangement (46) is provided,permitting the user to start the time setting procedure, performing themovement of the pointers from the predetermined starting position to thepointer position corresponding to the instantaneous time.
 11. Aradio-controlled clockwork according to claim 1, said clockwork beingthe clockwork within a wall or Grandfather's clock.
 12. Aradio-controlled clockwork according to claim 1, said clockwork beingthe clockwork within an alarm clock.
 13. A radio-controlled clockworkaccording to claim 1, said clockwork being the clockwork within awristwatch.
 14. A procedure for setting an analog display radioclockwork said clockwork comprising at least two pointers, a currentsource, a driving arrangement (24), driving the pointers, a mechanicalpointer setting arrangement (43, 44, 46) for bringing the pointers intoa predetermined starting position, corresponding to a certain time, acontrol device (55) supplying control signals for controlling saiddriving arrangement, a radio receiver arrangement (52), receiving timesignals from a time transmitter and passing them on to the controldevice (55), said current source, said driving arrangement, said controldevice and said radio receiving arrangement being arranged in one commonhousing, said mechanical pointer setting arrangement is to be actuatedby the user, and thereafter the control device applies control signalsto the driving arrangement on the basis of said predetermined startingposition, resulting in an increased pointer speed, until a pointerposition corresponding to the instantaneous time is reached, a secondswitching arrangement (46) being provided in said clockwork, permittingthe user to start the time setting procedure, performing the movement ofthe pointers from the predetermined starting position to the pointerposition corresponding to the instantaneous time, said procedure forsetting said analog display radio clockwork being characterized by thefollowing procedure steps:stopping the clockwork, such that the pointersdo no longer move, moving the pointers into a predetermined startingposition by a setting wheel (44) to be actuated by the user, startingthe setting procedure with an electric switching device (46), fixing theinstantaneous time by evaluating the time signals received from a radioreceiver by means of said control device, moving the pointers at anincreased speed out of said predetermined starting position, countingthe number of current impulses, supplied to said driving arrangement forpointer movement, comparing the number of impulses emitted with thenumber of impulses required for reaching the instantaneous time,terminating the setting procedure, as soon as the number of impulses hasbeen put out, required for moving the pointers into a positioncorresponding to the instantaneous time, continuation of the normalclockwork operation.
 15. A procedure according to claim 14,characterized in that said predetermined starting pointer position ispredetermined invariably.
 16. A procedure according to claim 14,characterized in that the predetermined starting pointer positiondepends on the instantaneous time.
 17. A procedure according to claim14, characterized in that a pointer for the seconds is provided,electrically transferable to said predetermined pointer startingposition by means of the driving arrangement.
 18. A procedure accordingto claim 15, characterized in that a pointer for the seconds isprovided, electrically transferable to said predetermined pointerstarting position by means of the driving arrangement.
 19. A procedureaccording to claim 16, characterized in that a pointer for the secondsis provided, electrically transferable to said predetermined pointerstarting position by means of the driving arrangement.